Contractors' Questions: is public now better than private?
Contractor’s Question: “Given there are fears that almost all private sector hirers of IT contractors will feel the pinch if economic conditions worsen, is the public sector a more stable, rewarding and almost as competitive place to work as the commercial sector?”
Expert’s Answer : “[We are] still seeing a steady demand for specialist contract staff in the public sector. One could argue that the public sector is the best bet for contractors in the current economic climate. The key issue for candidates is not choosing which sector to work in, but how to access the relevant contract opportunities.
“Clients are seeking deep specialist knowledge and with the availability in the contract market can afford to choose from consultants who have ‘been there and done it’ successfully in a similar organisation. This raises barriers for candidates from the private sector who may want to break into the perceived safety of the public sector, but don’t have the niche specialist knowledge or experience to get through the evaluation process.
“The Catalist framework (OGC Buying Solutions) encourages greater competition, so contractors should be obtaining support from their agents to ensure they present a structured submission to improve their chances of making the interview stage. The public sector still offers fair market rates and typical initial contract terms of six months or more.”
Answer provided by Simon Shobrook, an interim & contract public sector recruitment consultant at Hudson.
